Experimental Animal Models of HIV/AIDS for Vaccine Trials

Abstract

AIDS still persists as a relevant disease in public health and scientific research. There have been significant advances in HIV research, notably the development of an effective regimen in antiretroviral therapy. However, the emergence of drug resistance has facilitated continued research in administration of therapy and the development of new anti-retroviral drugs. In spite of nearly three (3) decades of intensive research, there still is not an effective vaccine against HIV-1. Animal models have been a crucial tool in drug discovery process for invasive investigation of HIV disease mainly in preclinical evaluation of drugs and vaccines. This undoubtedly is an integral part of successes so far achieved in HIV/AIDS research. Advances in both non-human primate and murine model immu-nogenetics in response to recombinant viruses have greatly increased the options of animal models available for research. Understanding the pros and cons of these models is imperative for animal study design that could further the development of vaccines and antiretroviral therapies for HIV prevention and treatment of AIDS patients.